Electrically controlled plant chopping machine



April 15, 1952 B. HANN 2,592,689

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED PLANT CHOPPING MACHINE Filed July 16, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a I Arthur B. Hann INVENTOR.

I20 BY 2:

April 15, 1952 A. B. HANN 2,592,689

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED PLANT CHOPPING MACHINE Filed July 16, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NW M5 /4a I34 l36 66X 72 9 [32 1:11:11 1211:: l 70 V Fig. 5

Arthur B. Hann INVENTOR.

BY wad-5i A. B. HANN April 15, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 8 w m H 2 6 0 5 m m n rm 4 7 o W 0 0 7 8 6 m 6 M 20 6 6 6 6 4 4 5 6 9 F u M m wmw m Patented Apr. 15, 1952 HNITED ELECIRICALLY' COhlTROLLED PLANT CHOPPI'N G MACHINE Arthur B. nami. Rama, Idaho Application July 1-6, 1948, Serial'No'. 38,980

ihis invention relates to new and useful improvements in agricultural machines and the primary object of the present invention is to provide an oscillatory cutter or plant engaging member and embodying novel and improved means for actuating said cutter in a pendulous action periodically.

Another important object of the present in,- vention is to provide an oscillating blade, for thinhing, hoeing or weeding operations, a pair of actuating members for actuating said oscillating blade periodically, and a light sensitive cell, or photoelectric cell for activating said members. alternatively to move the blade back and forth.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a crop thinner, beet topper and the like including a frame having pairs of spaced guide wheels that will straddle a plant as the frame is moved over a ground surface.

A still further aim of the present invention. is. to provide a device for topping, thinning or weeding plants that is simple and practical in. construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, durable and efficient inoperation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes, for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantagesreside in the details of construction and operation as more? fullyhereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention, and showing the same applied to. a portion of a tractor;

. Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the, plane of. section line 2--2 of Figure 1; I Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top planview of Figure l, andv showing the tractor cultivator bars in part;

Figure 5 is a schematic view showing the circuit used in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings ingdetail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral It represents a, substantially rectangular frame generally including a pair 5 Claims, (01-. 97-41 of spaced parallel side rails 12 and 14 the ends of which are connected by cross bars [6 and i8.

Rotatably supported by a pair of spaced. parallel, transverse bars 2!] and 22 that. are fixed between the rails I2 and i4, is a longitudinal shaft 24 to. which there is fixedly mounted a, pair of oscillatory members 26 and 28.

A. longitudinal cutter, blade, land or plant engaging member 30 is fixed to the lower terminals 0.1 the members, 26 and 28 and will move in, a pendulus. action with the members 26 and 28.

A pair of. angle member or L-shaped brackets an and 32 are fixed at their shorter legs to the inner faces of the members 126 and 28 and support. a pair of electrically operated switches 34 and 36 having operating rods 38 and 40 which are normally disposed outwardly by resilient means in a circuit closing position.

The outer extremities of the. rods 38 and 40. are integrally formed with spherical elements or bearing members 42 and 44.

An ear 46 projects upwardly from the bar l4 and pivotally engages a transverse support bar or arm 48 that rotatably supports a. bearing disk or wheel 50 which is engageable with the upwardly converging cam surfaces 52 and 54 at the upper terminal. of the member 26, as shown best in Figure 2 of the drawings.

An angle member 56 is fixed to the side rail. I2 and, adjustably supports a post or rod 58. A coil spring; 60 embraces the rod 58 and is biased between. a nut 82 receivably engaged on the upper externally threaded terminal of the rod 58 and a pressure plate I64 that is slidably mounted on the rod, 58 and. which bears against the free end of the-support 48 to urge the disk 58 against one cam surface of the member 26, either 52 or 54.

Fixed to the inner faces of the side rails 12 and [4,, are the base portions of a pair of conventional and. known solenoidsv 66 and '68 having operating cores, 10 and 12 that are pivotally connected by links 14.

The upper terminal of the member 28 is provided with an outwardly projecting pin 16 the ends of which engage slots 18 provided in the. links. 14. whereby the members '26 and 28; will be oscillated in a pendulous action as the cores l0 and, T2, are alternately actuated or retracted.

Slid'ably engaging. a spaced pair of substantially square vertical openings 14 provided in the cross bar [5, are square shanks 18 that are adjustable vertically by set screws carried by the bars 16 and i 8. The shanks 18 carried by the bar I6 rotatably supportv a pair of. spaced parallel for- 55 ward; or; leading guide wheels 82, and the shanks 78 carried by the bar I8 rotatably support a pair of spaced parallel, rear guide wheels 84.

The wheels 82 and 84 are so arranged that the same will straddle a row of plants 86 and the said wheels are beveled to prevent slipping thereof when the same are in motion.

Depending from the rear cultivator bar 88 of a tractor or the like 90, is a pair of arms or fixed links 92 that are connected to the side rails I2 and I4 by pitmans 94.

Fixed to the forward cultivator bar 96 is a pair of guide blocks 98 that slidably engage a pair of rods I which are vertically adjustable by set screws [02 carried by the said blocks 98.

Slidably and adjustably mounted on the rods I00 are bearing members or blocks I04 that engage the lower terminals of coil springs I06 which embrace the rods I00 and which are biased between the blocks 98 and bearing member I04. The

lower terminals of the rods I 00 are bifurcated as at I08 and pivotally engage the side rails I2 and I4.

Suitably fixed to and depending from the cross bar 20, is a pair of tubular elements or conduits H0 and H2 having angulated end portions H4 and I I6. A focus lamp I I0 is mounted in the portion I I6 and directs light rays to alight sensitive unit I that is mounted in the portion II4. A magnifying plate or lens I22 being mounted in the portion II6 magnifies the light rays passing from the lamp II8 to the unit I20 as is conventional for photoelectric cells commonly referred to as an electric eye."

As best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the lamp H6 is connected by wires I24 and I26 to a suitable source of electric current I28 and a switch I30 controls the circuit from the lamp H8 to the source I28.

A further wire I32 is electrically connected to one terminal of each solenoid 66 and 68 and the remaining terminals of the solenoids 66 and 68 are connected to one terminal of each switch 34 and 36 by wires I34 and I36.

The remaining terminals of the switches 34 and 36 are connected by a wire I38 to a contact point 5 I40 that is spaced relative to a further control point I42 which is connected to the Wire I26 by another wire I44.

An amplifier I46 is electrically connected to the sensitive unit 20 and a solenoid I48 is connected to the amplifier I46. This solenoid I48 includes an operating core I50 which is engageable with a spring-retracted lever or contact member I52 that bridges the gap between the contacts I40 and I42 when the core IE0 is moved outwardly due to the breaking of the circuit to the solenoid.

In practical use of the present invention, the lamp H8 is energized by actuating the master switch I30 and the sensitive unit I20 is energized by the radiations emitted by the lamp H8 and current is fed to the amplifier I46 normally retracting the operating core I50.

When a plant 86 breaks the light rays emitted from the lamp II8 to the sensitive unit I20, the circuit to the amplifier I46 will open and the operating core I50 will be actuated to move the lever I52 completing the circuit to switches 34 and.36. The members 26 and 28 will normally be disposed in a vertically inclined position as shown in Figure 2 with the disk 50 bearing upon the cam surface 54 and the cam 54 integral with the member 26 engages the element 42 to force the "arm 38 inwardly. Since the circuit to the solenoid 66 is broken the operating core will 4 be actuated to. force the members 26 and 28 in a pendulous action so that the members 26 and 28 will then be retained in a vertical inclined position so that the cam surface 52 will engage the wheel 50.

The next plant blocking the light rays to the sensitive unit I20 will then actuate the core I2 of the solenoid 66 and the members 26 and 28 will return to that position shown in Figure 2 with the cam surface 54 engaging the disk 50.

The back and forth swinging motion of the cutter will continue as successive plants are disposed between the lamp IIB and sensitive unit I20.

In order that the cutter may be controlled to oscillate at any desired time and length of time, there is provided a push type switch I50. of any conventional form, that is connected to the lines I24 and I36 by wires I60 and I62 to bypass the switch elements I40 and I42 as well as the amplifier I46. When the spring urged bottom for the switch I58 is pressed and held inwardly, the circuit to the switches 34 and 36 is completed and the cutter will be oscillated in the manner previously described.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device Will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accord-v ingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an agricultural machine, a wheeled frame. a longitudinal shaft carried by said frame, a pair of members vertically pivotally attached to said shaft, a blade carried by said members, a pair ofsolenoids carried by said frame for actuating said members in a pendulous action periodically, one of said members having a cam surface, means carried by said frame engaging said cam surface to normally retain said members in a vertically inclined position, and light sensitive means responsive to a plant for controlling said solenoids, said cam engaging means including a pivotal support carried by said frame, a bearing disk carried by said support engaging said cam surface, and resilient means yieldingly urging said disk against said cam surface.

2. In an agricultural machine, a wheeled frame, a support pivotally mounted on said frame for vertical oscillatory movement, a blade mounted on said support, a pair of solenoids carried by the frame for actuating said support in a pendulous action periodically, said support having a cam surface, means carried by the frame engaging the cam surface to normally retain the support in a vertically inclined position, and light sensitive means responsive to a plant for controlling said solenoids.

3. In an agricultural machine, a wheeled frame, a tool support pivotally mounted on said frame for vertical oscillatory movement, a horizontally reciprocable member mounted on the frame and connected to the support for oscillating the support, and electrical means connected to the member and actuated by the support for imparting reciprocable movement to the member,

said means including a switch arm and a cam carried by said support engaging said arm.

4. In an agricultural machine, a wheeled frame, a vertically swingable tool support carried by the frame, a pair of solenoids mounted on the frame and including operating cores connected to said support for imparting swinging movement to said support, a pair of switches mounted on said frame and electrically connected to a source of current and to said solenoids, and means carried by said support for selectively actuating said switches.

5. In an agricultural machine, a wheeled frame, a tool support pivotally mounted on said frame for vertical oscillatory movement, a pivotally reciprocable member mounted on the frame and connected to the support for oscillating the support, and electrical means connected to the member and actuated by the support for imparting reciprocable movement to the member, said support including a cam surface and means slidably carried by the frame and overlying and engaging 'said cam surface tending to retain the supports in a vertically inclined position.

' ARTHUR B. HANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 886,179 Bragunier et a1. Apr. 28, 1908 1,270,453 Smith June 25, 1918 1,303,798 Janes May 13, 1919 1,519,198 Frank Dec. 16, 1924 1,736,127 Morris Nov. 19, 1929 2,177,803 Ferte et a1. Oct. 31, 1939 2,400,562

Marihart May 21, 1946 

